VANCOUVER
– Minister
Rich Coleman announced several changestoday that will help support
local breweries and distilleries, create new business opportunities, and revise
current liquor laws in British Columbia.

Changes
announced today include the following:

·Brewers
and distillers now can apply
to have an on-site consumption area such as a lounge, tasting room or event
area.

·Small-
and medium-sized liquor manufacturers will be allowed up to three common
ownership and business relationships with licensed establishments located off
their manufacturing site.

·Rules
around how liquor manufacturers can promote their products in bars and
restaurants have been simplified by removing the requirement for a buy-sell
agreement.

·Distilled
liquor products that consist of 100 per cent British Columbia agricultural raw
materials and are distilled in B.C. by licensed distilleries are now eligible
for mark-up exempt direct sales.

·A
honourary B.C. wine envoy will be named with a mandate to work to complement
existing efforts to open up domestic markets for B.C. wines.

·Wine
stores will become licensees under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act.

·The
criteria on whether private liquor stores can relocate within one kilometre of
an existing liquor store are now set out in regulation rather than policy.

·All
increases to liquor-primary capacity will now require local government input.

·Allowing
rural agency stores to purchase unlimited amounts of beer through their local
government liquor store.

Quotes:

Minister
Rich Coleman –

“These
changes reflect the evolving nature of the liquor industry in British Columbia.
As time passes, so does the need to re-evaluate our laws and find ways to
ensure we’re doing all we can to create an environment where liquor-related
businesses can continue to succeed.”

Mark
James, Mark James Group, Owner, Red Truck Brewery –

“We welcome these changes that the provincial
government has announced today. We have long-wanted the freedom to include our
portfolio of B.C.-brewed, award-winning beer and premium spirits with those
products of different suppliers in our liquor primary and food primary licensed
establishments. We commend the government on this initiative and believe that,
in concert with allowing breweries and distilleries to have onsite
lounges or tasting rooms, the timing is perfect.”

Minister
of Agriculture Norm Letnick –

“These
changes will encourage B.C. craft distilleries to use local grains and produce,
will support B.C. farmers producing high-quality crops, and are the latest
example of the B.C. government’s efforts to create a business environment that
attracts investment and rewards innovation. B.C. is internationally respected
for our high-quality wines and beers, and is increasingly being looked at as a
place of similar opportunity for craft distillers.”

Anthony
Frustagli, co-owner, Parallel 49 and St. Augustine's –

"We
are elated by today's announcement. This is a huge step forward for B.C. craft
brewers, vintners, distillers, restaurateurs and publicans. We applaud the government
for updating an outdated and archaic law that was impeding progress not only
for us but a number of businesses in the craft beer industry. We look forward
to sharing the beers which we so carefully craft at Parallel 49 with our valued
customers at St. Augustine's."

Quick
facts:

Over
the past year, the Province has made changes to modernize liquor laws in B.C.
including:

·Provides opportunities for restaurant customers that want to bring
their own wine into a licensed dining establishment.

Personal importation of liquor into B.C. –

·Allows B.C. residents to bring back an unlimited amount of 100 per
cent Canadian wine if it is for personal consumption and purchased from a
recognized winery in another province, or choose to have it shipped from the
winery directly to their home. Also allows B.C. residents returning from
another Canadian province to bring back on-their-person up to nine litres of
wine, three litres of spirits, and a combined total of 25.6 litres of beer,
cider or coolers for personal consumption.

Licensing
of Caterers –

·Allows
caterers to apply for a liquor licence to help them fully meet the food and
beverage needs of their clients – this supports industry and strengthens
tourism appeal.

Having on-site lounges or special event areas are
another way that B.C.’s breweries and distilleries can promote their
award-winning beer and premium spirits. These changes will support the growing
craft brewing and distilling industry by allowing them more ways to showcase
their products. This change takes effect March 1, 2013.

Tied
House and Trade Practices

This change provides small
and medium winery, distillery or brewery owners that also own an off-site
restaurant or pub the freedom to serve their products in their establishments,
which they were previously not allowed to do.

Moving forward, licensees that enter
into an off-site tied-house agreement are required to carry a variety of
products from different suppliers to avoid particular products being favoured.

All
liquor manufacturers – breweries, wineries and distilleries – will now be
eligible for on-site tied house agreements. Previously, only breweries and
wineries were eligible.

In
addition, licensees may now sponsor events, activities and organizations, in
the same way that liquor manufacturers have traditionally been able to do.

These
changes take effect March 1, 2013.

Craft
Distilleries Policy Change

The
Province listened to British Columbia’s craft distillers to find ways to
support their industry and this policy change will do just that by allowing
mark up free direct sales. These changes will also help stimulate growth in the
number of craft distilleries and associated employment.

The
Province’s goal is to help grow the made-in-B.C. craft distillery industry and
the use of B.C. agricultural inputs will benefit our agricultural sector.

B.C.
wine envoy

The
government of British Columbia is also pleased to announce that Herb LeRoy will
begin his role as the honourary B.C. wine envoy on March 1, 2013. LeRoy, who
worked previously as the private secretary to the lieutenant-governor and executive
director of the office of the lieutenant-governor, will work to complement
existing efforts to open up domestic markets for B.C. wines. LeRoy will work
inter-provincially to reduce barriers so that B.C. wine can be enjoyed by
Canadians from sea to sea to sea.

Wine
Store Licensing

Wine stores in B.C. were previously Liquor Distribution
Branch agency appointments and are being transitioned to licensees under the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. This change was made to help ensure all
liquor retailers are being regulated by the same agency, which helps provide
consistency, and means they are subject to the same rules and oversight.

Licensee
Retail Store Relocation

Private
liquor stores can only relocate within one kilometre of another private liquor
store under exceptional circumstances. These circumstances now are set out in
regulation rather than by policy. This change provides
greater certainty for licensees and responds to an earlier Supreme Court
decision to clarify government’s intent.

Capacity
Increase Oversight

Bars
and nightclubs that want to increase their person capacity to match the
buildings occupant load must now obtain local government input. This local
government input is important to ensure the best interests of the surrounding
community are considered.

Rural
Agency Stores

Government
has an ongoing commitment to help rural agency stores succeed, so along with
allowing rural agency stores to purchase unlimited amounts of beer through
their local government liquor store, rural agency stores will now have access
to government liquor store bags, “Taste” magazines and other promotional items.
These changes were made following consultations with the Rural Agency Store
Advisory Society on ways government could support rural agency stores remain
successful moving forward.